Retractable buckle coupling device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a buckle coupling device in which a part of the buckle coupling device remains fixed while the other part is movable in a certain range so that a length of the buckle coupling device is temporarily extended, and the moved part of the buckle coupling device returns to an original position thereof by an internal spring that is compressed when the length is extended. According to the present invention, a retractable buckle coupling device includes: a belt coupling member having a first fixing protrusion, a fixed part, and a coupling part; a first cover member having a fastening rod; a buckle fastening member having a second fixing protrusion and a fastening part; at least one spring member fitted to the first fixing protrusion and the second fixing protrusion; and a second cover member fastened to the fastening rod.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a buckle coupling device configured to be retractable, and more particularly, to a buckle coupling device in which a part of the buckle coupling device remains fixed while the other part is movable in a certain range so that a length of the buckle coupling device may be temporarily extended, and the moved part of the buckle coupling device may return to an original position thereof by an internal spring that is compressed when the length is extended.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In general, a belt is worn on a waist to prevent pants from sliding down. However, when the abdomen temporarily expands due to an inappropriate posture or food intake, it may be uncomfortable due to a pressure caused by the belt worn on the waist.

When the pressure is applied by the belt, the problem may be solved by loosening the belt to adjust a length of the belt. However, it is inconvenient to adjust the length of the belt according to every repetitive expansion and contraction of the abdomen, and there may also be situations such as driving where the length of the belt may not be adjusted.

As an invention related to a device for solving such a problem, Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-0888536 entitled “Automatic Extension Device for Belt”, Korean Utility Model Registration Publication No. 20-0481409 entitled “Automatic Belt Length Adjustment Device”, and Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0004934 entitled “Automatic Extension Buckle” have been proposed and disclosed.

Korean Patent Registration Publication No. 10-0888536 entitled “Automatic Extension Device for Belt” proposes an invention related to a device including: a connection belt connected to a connection hook of a buckle; an elastic member having one end fixed to the connection belt; a fixing clip fitted and fixedly screw-coupled to one end of the belt while being connected to an opposite end of the elastic member; and a decorative member fitted and fixedly screw-coupled to the connection belt to surround the elastic member and the fixing clip, and having a belt hook, so that a length of a belt may be automatically increased when abdomen expands so as to relieve a pressure of the abdomen. In addition, Korean Utility Model Registration Publication No. 20-0481409 entitled “Automatic Belt Length Adjustment Device” proposes an invention related to a device including: a buckle connection member to which a buckle is connected; a spring member for generating an elastic force; a length adjustment member connected to the spring member so as to be movable; and a cover member for sealing a bottom surface of the buckle connection member, so that a pressure applied to abdomen when a wearer breathes may be relieved. Further, Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0004934 entitled “Automatic Extension Buckle” proposes an invention related to a device in which an elastic clip member having a length automatically extended or restored is connected to one end of a buckle connected to a belt, so that an entire length of the buckle is automatically extended or restored by expansion of abdomen or the like of a wearer without any additional operation performed by the wearer of the belt, and thus a pressure applied by the belt to the abdomen may be minimized as the entire length of the buckle is automatically extended or restored by the expansion of the abdomen or the like of the wearer.

DOCUMENTS OF RELATED ART Patent Documents

-   -   (Patent document 0001) Korean Patent Registration Publication         No. 10-0888536 (2009. Mar. 5)     -   (Patent document 0002) Korean Utility Model Registration         Publication No. 20-0481409 (2016. Sep. 21)     -   (Patent document 0003) Korean Patent Publication No.         10-2018-0004934 (2018. Jan. 15)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to propose a retractable buckle coupling device which may solve the problems occurring when the abdomen expands due to an inappropriate posture or food intake, such as inconveniencies resulting from adjusting the length of the belt every time when the pressure is applied by the belt worn on the waist, and inconveniencies resulting from situations such as driving where the length of the belt may not be adjusted.

In order to achieve the above objects, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a retractable buckle coupling device including: a belt coupling member having at least one first through-hole and at least one first spring hole, which have a predetermined length and are formed through upper and lower ends of the belt coupling member in parallel with each other, having a side surface opened to form a first seating groove connected to the first spring hole, having a first fixing protrusion protruding toward an inside of the first spring hole, and including a fixed part, which has at least one guide protruding upward between the first through-hole and the first spring hole, and a coupling part to which a belt is coupled; a first cover member having both side surfaces opened to foam a reception groove for receiving the fixed part, and having a fastening rod provided in the reception groove to pass through the first through-hole; a buckle fastening member having at least one second through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole and at least one second spring hole corresponding to the first spring hole, having a second fixing protrusion protruding toward an inside of the second spring hole and seated in the first seating groove, having a side surface opened to form a second seating groove connected to the second spring hole, having at least one guide groove into which the at least one guide is inserted, and provided at one distal end thereof with a fastening part to which a buckle is fastened; at least one spring member having one distal end and an opposite distal end fitted to the first fixing protrusion and the second fixing protrusion, respectively; and a second cover member fastened to the fastening rod to close the reception groove and prevent the buckle fastened to the fastening part from being separated.

According to the retractable buckle coupling device of the present invention, the first cover member, the buckle fastening member, and the second cover member are spaced apart from the coupling part of the belt coupling member so that the problem derived from the pressure applied to the abdomen due to the expansion of the abdomen when the belt was worn can be solved, and an internal spring member is compressed when the buckle fastening member is spaced apart from the coupling part of the belt coupling member so that the first cover member, the buckle fastening member, and the second cover member can return to their original positions as soon as a circumference of the abdomen is reduced.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a view illustrating an example of coupling relation between a belt coupling member and a first cover member of the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2B is a view illustrating an example in which the first cover member of the retractable buckle coupling device is moved according to the present invention;

FIG. 3A is a view illustrating an example of coupling relation among the belt coupling member, the first cover member, and a buckle fastening member of the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a view illustrating an example in which the first cover member and the buckle fastening member of the retractable buckle coupling device is moved according to the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a schematic view illustrating a buckle fastening member of the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating an example in which a spring member is fastened to the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a view illustrating an example in which the spring member is compressed in the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating an example in which a second cover member is fastened to the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5B is a view illustrating an example in which a length of the retractable buckle coupling device is extended according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a buckle coupling device configured to be retractable, and more particularly, to a retractable buckle coupling device including: a belt coupling member 100 having at least one first through-hole 111 and at least one first spring hole 112, which have a predetermined length and are formed through upper and lower ends of the belt coupling member 100 in parallel with each other, having a side surface opened to form a first seating groove 113 connected to the first spring hole 112, having a first fixing protrusion 114 protruding toward an inside of the first spring hole 112, and including a fixed part 110, which has at least one guide 115 protruding upward between the first through-hole 111 and the first spring hole 112, and a coupling part 120 to which a belt is coupled; a first cover member 130 having both side surfaces opened to form a reception groove 131 for receiving the fixed part 110, and having a fastening rod 132 provided in the reception groove 131 to pass through the first through-hole 111; a buckle fastening member 140 having at least one second through-hole 141 corresponding to the first through-hole 111 and at least one second spring hole 142 corresponding to the first spring hole 112, having a second fixing protrusion 143 protruding toward an inside of the second spring hole 142 and seated in the first seating groove 113, having a side surface opened to form a second seating groove 144 connected to the second spring hole 142, having at least one guide groove 145 into which the at least one guide 115 is inserted, and provided at one distal end thereof with a fastening part 146 to which a buckle is fastened; at least one spring member 150 having one distal end and an opposite distal end fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143, respectively; and a second cover member 160 fastened to the fastening rod 132 to close the reception groove 131 and prevent the buckle fastened to the fastening part 146 from being separated.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention includes a belt coupling member 100 having at least one first through-hole 111 and at least one first spring hole 112, which have a predetermined length and are formed through upper and lower ends of the belt coupling member 100 in parallel with each other, having a side surface opened to form a first seating groove 113 connected to the first spring hole 112, having a first fixing protrusion 114 protruding toward an inside of the first spring hole 112, and including a fixed part 110, which has at least one guide 115 protruding upward between the first through-hole 111 and the first spring hole 112, and a coupling part 120 to which a belt is coupled.

In detail, the belt coupling member 100 is one element of the present invention, which is coupled to one distal end of the belt worn around the waist of a user to configure the buckle coupling device such that the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, and the second cover member 160 are coupled to each other, and may be divided into the fixed part 110 related to the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, and the second cover member 160, and the coupling part 120 coupled to the belt.

The first through-hole 111 is penetrated by the fastening rod 132 to limit a movement range of the fastening rod 132, and the first spring hole 112 defines a space into which the spring member 150 is inserted together with the second spring hole 142. The first spring hole 112 may be maintained at a fixed position with respect to a moving second spring hole 142, moved instead of the second spring hole 142 that is maintained in its position, or moved simultaneously with the second spring hole 142, in which the first spring hole 112 and the second spring hole 142 are moved in opposite directions.

In other words, the buckle coupling device is bidirectionally retractable, so that the length of the buckle coupling device can be extended by at most 1.5 times.

In addition, the first seating groove 113 is a groove in which the second fixing protrusion 143 is seated so that a shape of the first seating groove 113 may be determined according to a shape of the second fixing protrusion 143. The first fixing protrusion 114 is seated in the second seating groove 144 to allow, together with the second fixing protrusion 143, the spring member 150 to be provided inside the buckle coupling device. The guide 115 is inserted into the guide groove 145 to restrict a moving direction of the buckle fastening member 140.

Further, the coupling part 120 has a generally known configuration in which the coupling part 120 receives the one distal end of the belt and the received one distal end is fixedly pressed by a plurality of protrusions, but the coupling part 120 may have various configurations if it can be coupled with the belt.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention includes a first cover member 130 having both side surfaces opened to form a reception groove 131 for receiving the fixed part 110, and having a fastening rod 132 provided in the reception groove 131 to pass through the first through-hole 111.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the first cover member 130 is one element of the present invention, which receives the fixed part 110 such that the fastening rod 132 passes through the first through-hole 111 so as to allow the buckle fastening member 140 to be received in the reception groove 131 while making close contact with the fixed part 110, and is fastened to the second cover member 160 by the fastening rod 132.

In other words, the fastening rod 132 allows the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 to be fastened to each other, and makes contact with one distal end or an opposite distal end of the first through-hole 111 if necessary, so that a moving distance of the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 which are fastened to each other may be limited. FIG. 2B is a view illustrating an example in which the first cover member 130 is spaced apart from the coupling part 120 while the moving distance is limited by the fastening rod 132 and the first through-hole 111.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show that the fastening rod 132 passes through the one distal end of the first through-hole 111 and moves toward the opposite distal end of the first through-hole, but the embodiment is not limited thereto. The fastening rod 132 may pass through a central portion of the first through-hole 111 so that the fastening rod 132 may be bidirectionally movable.

Further, it is obvious that the fastening rod 132 has a length that allows the fastening rod 132 to pass through the second through-hole 141 connected to the first through-hole 111 or to sufficiently penetrate into the second through-hole 141 after passing through the first through-hole 111, and has a diameter that is shorter than widths of the first through-hole 111 and the second through-hole 141.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3A to 3C, the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention includes a buckle fastening member 140 having at least one second through-hole 141 corresponding to the first through-hole 111 and at least one second spring hole 142 corresponding to the first spring hole 112, having a second fixing protrusion 143 protruding toward an inside of the second spring hole 142 and seated in the first seating groove 113, having a side surface opened to form a second seating groove 144 connected to the second spring hole 142, having at least one guide groove 145 into which the at least one guide 115 is inserted, and provided at one distal end thereof with a fastening part 146 to which a buckle is fastened.

The buckle fastening member 140 is one element of the present invention, which is used for fastening the buckle to the buckle coupling device, and spaced apart from the coupling part 120 of the belt coupling member 100 together with the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 to compress the spring member 150. While the second through-hole 141 is connected to the first through-hole 111, the second spring hole 142 is connected to the first spring hole 112, and the guide 115 is inserted into the guide groove 145, the buckle fastening member 140 makes close contact with the fixed part 110 of the belt coupling member 100 as shown in FIG. 3A, so that most of the buckle fastening member 140 except for the fastening part 146 is received in the reception groove 131 of the first cover member 130, and the buckle fastening member 140 is prevented from being exposed to an outside by the second cover member 160 except for the fastening part 146.

In this case, the fastening part 146 may have a shape of a groove having both side surfaces opened, which is the same as or similar to a generally known shape used for fastening the buckle, and the fastening part 146 is opened or closed by the second cover member 160 to fasten the belt and maintain a fastened state of the belt if necessary.

In addition, the fastening part 146 has a shape that makes close contact with a distal end of the first cover member 130 when the buckle fastening member 140 makes close contact with the fixed part 110 of the belt coupling member 100, so that the buckle fastening member 140 may be moved together with the first cover member 130 according to the movement of the first cover member 130, and may push the first cover member 130 to move the first cover member 130 while returning to the original position by a restoring force of the spring member 150.

The guide 115 is inserted into the guide groove 145, and the guide groove 145 allows the buckle fastening member 140 to reciprocally move only in a linear direction as shown in FIG. 3B, prevents the buckle fastening member 140 from moving in other directions, and has one side surface opened to expose a part of the inserted guide 115 according to the movement of the buckle fastening member 140.

Further, it is unnecessary to form the second through-hole 141 in a shape the same as a shape of the first through-hole 111 having a predetermined length so far as a screw coupling hole 161 can be connected to a screw coupling groove 133.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention includes at least one spring member 150 having one distal end and an opposite distal end fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143, respectively.

The spring member 150 is one element of the present invention, which is compressed in a state where the one distal end and the opposite distal end of the spring member 150 is fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143, respectively, to generate a restoring force when the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160, which are coupled to each other, are spaced apart from the coupling part 120 of the belt coupling member 100.

In other words, when the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160, which are coupled to each other, are spaced apart from the coupling part 120 of the belt coupling member 100, the buckle fastening member 140 is moved together with the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 by the first cover member 130, so that the second fixing protrusion 143 provided on the buckle fastening member 140 is also moved. However, the first fixing protrusion 114 provided on the fixed part 110 of the belt coupling member 100 is maintained in its position, so that a distance between the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143 is reduced.

Accordingly, the spring member 150 having the one distal end and the opposite distal end respectively fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143 is compressed to generate the restoring force. In order to achieve the above configuration, the spring member 150 is preferably configured as a compression coil spring which may be inserted into the first spring hole 112 and the second spring hole 142 configured to have a straight length, and has one distal end and an opposite distal end fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143, which are positioned symmetrically with respect to each other, respectively.

Further, the spring member 150 is provided inside the buckle coupling device such that the one distal end and the opposite distal end are respectively fitted to the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143, so that the spring member 150 can be easily separated and replaced if necessary.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 1, 5A, and 5B, the retractable buckle coupling device according to the present invention includes a second cover member 160 fastened to the fastening rod 132 to close the reception groove 131 and prevent the buckle fastened to the fastening part 146 from being separated.

The second cover member 160 is fastened to the fastening rod 132 so as to be fastened to the first cover member 130 to prevent the first cover member 130 from being separated, closes the reception groove 131 to prevent an internal structure of the buckle coupling device from being exposed to the outside and prevent the buckle fastening member 140 from being separated, and closes a passage into which the buckle is introduced so as to be fastened to the fastening pat 146 to prevent the buckle from being separated.

In this case, the second cover member 160 may be screw-coupled to the fastening rod 132. Accordingly, the screw coupling groove 133 having a predetermined depth may be formed in an upper end of the fastening rod 132, and the screw coupling hole 161 corresponding to the screw coupling groove 133 may be formed on one side of the second cover member 160.

Hereinafter, a process of integrally forming the retractable buckle coupling device by assembling the belt coupling member 100, the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, the spring member 150, and the second cover member 160, and effects of the device will be described.

First, the one distal end of the belt that is worn around the waist of the user is coupled to the fixed part 110, the first cover member 130 is brought into close contact with the fixed part 110 by allowing the fastening rod 132 to pass through the first through-hole 111, and the second cover member 160 is brought into close contact with the fixed part 110 by allowing the fastening rod 132 to pass through the second through-hole 141.

In other words, the fastening rod 132 simultaneously passes through the first through-hole 111 and the second through-hole 141, so that the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 are received in the reception groove 131, and the first through-hole 111 and the second through-hole 141 are connected to each other.

In addition, the first spring hole 112 and the second spring hole 142 are connected to each other such that the second fixing protrusion 143 is seated in the first seating groove 113 and the first fixing protrusion 114 is seated in the second seating groove 144, the spring member 150 configured as the compression coil spring is inserted into the first spring hole 112 and the second spring hole 142 which are connected to each other and fixed by the first fixing protrusion 114 and the second fixing protrusion 143.

Thereafter, the buckle is fastened to the fastening part 146, which may have the shape of a groove having both side surfaces opened, and the screw coupling groove 133 formed in the fastening rod 132 and the screw coupling hole 161 formed in the second cover member 160 are connected to or mated with each other, so that the reception groove 131 may be closed, and the buckle fastened to the fastening part 146 may be prevented from being separated. In this case, the first cover member 130 and the second cover member 160 may be screw-coupled to each other.

According to the above coupling scheme, the belt coupling member 100, the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, the spring member 150, and the second cover member 160 integrally constitute the retractable buckle coupling device, and the belt and the buckle may be respectively fastened to one side and an opposite side of the retractable buckle coupling device. When a circumference of abdomen is temporarily increased due to a posture or overeating of the user wearing the belt on the waist, the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, and the second cover member 160 which are coupled to each other are spaced apart from the coupling part 120 of the belt coupling member 100, so that the problem derived from the pressure applied to the user can be considerably solved, and the first cover member 130, the buckle fastening member 140, and the second cover member 160 can return to their original positions by the compressed spring member 150 as soon as the circumference of the abdomen is reduced.

The embodiments described above are provided by way of example to allow those skilled in the art to sufficiently understand the technical idea of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but may be embodied in many other foams.

In order to clearly describe the present invention, portions irrelevant to the description are omitted from the drawings. In the drawings, widths, lengths, thicknesses, and the like of components may be exaggerated or reduced for convenience.

In addition, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A retractable buckle coupling device comprising: a belt coupling member having at least one first through-hole and at least one first spring hole, which have a predetermined length and are formed through upper and lower ends of the belt coupling member in parallel with each other, having a side surface opened to form a first seating groove connected to the first spring hole, having a first fixing protrusion protruding toward an inside of the first spring hole, and including a fixed part, which has at least one guide protruding upward between the first through-hole and the first spring hole, and a coupling part to which a belt is coupled; a first cover member having opposite side surfaces opened to form a reception groove for receiving the fixed part, and having a fastening rod provided in the reception groove to pass through the first through-hole; a buckle fastening member having at least one second through-hole corresponding to the first through-hole and at least one second spring hole corresponding to the first spring hole, having a second fixing protrusion protruding toward an inside of the second spring hole and seated in the first seating groove, having a side surface opened to form a second seating groove connected to the second spring hole, having at least one guide groove into which the at least one guide is inserted, and provided at one distal end thereof with a fastening part to which a buckle is fastened; at least one spring member having one distal end and an opposite distal end fitted to the first fixing protrusion and the second fixing protrusion, respectively; and a second cover member fastened to the fastening rod to close the reception groove and prevent the buckle fastened to the fastening part from being separated.
 2. The retractable buckle coupling device of claim 1, wherein the spring member includes a compression coil spring.
 3. The retractable buckle coupling device of claim 1, wherein the buckle coupling device is bidirectionally retractable.
 4. The retractable buckle coupling device of claim 1, wherein a screw coupling groove is formed at an upper end of the fastening rod, the second cover member is formed with a screw coupling hole corresponding to the screw coupling groove, and the first cover member and the second cover member are screw-coupled to each other. 